Chooks spent the night under the stars!

[Snadger]

Arrived at the allotment about lunchtime and didn't suss that something had been amiss. When I opened the shed I noticed that the spade I usually put over the pophole to keep the chooks out whilst cleaning out shed was still in position but had been spun around allowing chooks in.
8 eggs were laid(two of which I dropped!) but there were no droppings on there favourite roosting area and only a few on there secondary roost? I had sprayed the droppings boards with armillatox yesterday because of an ant infestation (now gone thankfully) and asumed they mustn'd have liked the smell.
While I was filling there water I noticed the top of the broody hut that I have in the run was covereed in droppings and thought it strange as they don't usually go on top of there.
It wasn't until later that the penny dropped. They mustn't have been able to get in the shed last night so roosted outside (fully enclosed with mesh I hasten to add) and only managed to gain entry in the morning to lay the eggs.
They don't seem any the worse for there camping out experience...........but I've checked three times before I came away that the pophole was open for them tonight before I came away!

[Flummery]

So easily done Snadger. Glad they came to no harm. I bet you'll double check for a while though!

[MaureenHall]

Yer daft thing!!! Bet you won't do that again in a hurry How's Mrs Tush getting on? She wasn't shut out I take it????????????

[janeyo]

When our opener stopped working I luckily went down to check they were ok, and it had shut them out. Poor things were asleep ontop of the nest box which sticks out the side of the coop. They were easily moved as it was dark but they all went to bed much earlier the next day - don't think they fancied camping out twice, lol.

janeyo

[Snadger]

Yer daft thing!!! Bet you won't do that again in a hurry How's Mrs Tush getting on? She wasn't shut out I take it????????????

Nope, Tush was safely tucked up in her nestbox!

[Nicos]

Poor little things!

I know animals get a thicker coat for the winter- what happens with birds? - Do they just fluff up more- or just get cold???
(My horse is still out a night with a rug on, and he's started to get his winter coat)

[Sue]

Hi
My hens have never used their hen house for sleeping in, just egg laying and spend the night roosting on the top. I've given up trying to get them to sleep inside so am resigned to a lot of extra scrubbing. They did this all winter and don't seem any worse for their experience. They are in a roofed and totally enclosed run. I was thinking of stapling thick clear plastic over three sides of the run to give them a bit more protection this year.
Sue

[Noodle]

Hi
My hens have never used their hen house for sleeping in, just egg laying and spend the night roosting on the top. I've given up trying to get them to sleep inside so am resigned to a lot of extra scrubbing. They did this all winter and don't seem any worse for their experience. They are in a roofed and totally enclosed run. I was thinking of stapling thick clear plastic over three sides of the run to give them a bit more protection this year.
Sue

Mine sleep outside too! Was starting to get worried form the others responses!
One goes inside most nights, the other 2 roost outside and also poo all over the roof of the house! I sweep the roof every day and it seems to work ok. It also means I don't have to stick my head in the house to clean up all the poo!

[Birdie Wife]

Have they ever roosted inside? If they have, and have stopped recently, it could be that you have an attack of the red mite. They hide in nooks and crannies in the house and come out at night to feed on the chooks. You should see them as little red clusters, especially around the ends of the roosting bars and the corners of the house. Hope for your sake it's not though! They are really difficult to eradicate.

[Snadger]

Have they ever roosted inside? If they have, and have stopped recently, it could be that you have an attack of the red mite. They hide in nooks and crannies in the house and come out at night to feed on the chooks. You should see them as little red clusters, especially around the ends of the roosting bars and the corners of the house. Hope for your sake it's not though! They are really difficult to eradicate.

Funnily enough I thought of that BW but last night they were back inside without any problems! I use diatomas earth on perches and nest boxes ..........just in case.......... even the ants have 'blown the coop' now!

[Sue]

Hi
No, sure it's not red mite, I tried shutting them in when they first came but it didn't work (and it was a brand new hen house) and they started roosting on the roof, and I must admit it's very sweet to see them all in a line fluffed up and sleeping soundly. I got a new hen this year and she quickly joined the line up, not even giving the hen house a try.
Even in the coldest weather they seemed to be absolutely fine but wouldn't have left them to it if the run wasn't roofed to keep them dry.

Sue

[Noodle]

I checked for red mite, but there's no signs of it, I think they just like it outside! If it's wet they go in, so they can't be getting eaten in their sleep!

[Twinkle]

We have a walk in static covered run the size of a small shed where they get shut in at teatime - but only 2 of the 7 ever go into the house to sleep of their own accord. the rest roost on top of the henhouse or the perches

Normally one of us goes out when it gets dark with a torch and unceremoniously bundles them all into the henhouse (the run's only made of chicken wire so wouldn't withstand a prolonged fox/pinemarten attack)

[Jardiniere]

so glad to read all this! My new hens have steadfastly refuse to go inside their little night house and always sleep on top....its under cover - a lean to with a tin roof and enclosed with chicken wire ...was hoping they might go inside when it starts to get colder ........

[digthatchick]

Mine seem just the opposite, come 7.15pm they are all tucked on their perches and waiting for me to come and close the pen and house doors. They are free range in the lower garden during the day but always have access to their pen and house. See pic.http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...1&d=1222201397 http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...1&d=1222201449